F*ck Progressive Insurance

[Porsche-O-Phile]

A couple of weeks ago I finally got my (pristine) Mercedes SLK out of winter storage where it had been hibernating for the last few months, cleaned it off, charged the battery and took out for a drive. All was good. I have a standing rule of thumb that I don't drive that car (or the 911) until there is no more snow on the ground and there have been at least three good solid rainfalls to wash away any residual salt/sand/grit/crud on the ground. It was good to finally get the car out and enjoy it a bit.

The next day I drove the car to work (train station parking garage) and parked it on the end of a row of cars (to avoid door dings from inconsiderate idiots who park right next to you and fling their doors open into your nice paint), hopped on the train and went about my day's business. At the end of the day I was looking forward to an enjoyable drive home but when I got to the car, I got an unpleasant surprise - some jackass had decided to evidently back into the car and smash in the driver's side door (facing the drive aisle) and mirror. Needless to say I was a bit irritated. It was pretty clear what had happened - bits of red taillight lens all over the ground (which I picked up and kept as evidence), no note, etc. Pretty clear-cut case of hit-and-run - someone on the opposite side of the drive aisle must've backed straight across and slammed right into it, then taken off. Took a bunch of pictures, asked the lot attendant guy (in a booth not more than 50 feet away) if he'd seen anything and he gave me the glassy-eyed stare and then a "no habla", so I paid my seven bucks and left. Called the office and talked to someone who actually spoke English - no cameras or other surveillance (naturally) except at the entry point/cash handling stations, "sorry we're not liable for damage to your vehicle - tough luck, etc..." Nobody saw anything and didn't really want to bother investigating it.

I called my insurance co (Progressive) and made a claim; Estimate is about $2k. $500 deductible. Here's where it gets good: I get a voice mail from the claims rep yesterday saying "we looked at the photos (their estimator took) and it looks like you hit a pole so we're finding you at fault - tough luck [and by the way, we're going to jack your rates up now for an at-fault accident]". WTF?!?! In fairness the damage does sort of look like it might have been caused from a pole (I'll post pics when I can) but unless I literally slid into it sideways I don't see how that could be - and the driver's side mirror is still attached (wouldn't a pole sideswipe have torn it off?) Besides, if I'd hit a pole I'd have simply said, "I'm an idiot and hit a pole" - or (more likely) would have fixed the damage myself rather than going through insurance for the price of being dumb.

I'm hopping mad about this. I've been called many things but NEVER a liar. They've now made this personal (direct attack on my credibility and integrity) and I want to make sure they don't get away with it. First off, do I have any recourse at all? I find it astonishing that the gov't allows an insurance company (who is most definitely NOT impartial) to make the determination of who is "at fault" (this happened in MA, which is unfortunately not a "no fault" state).

Secondly, can I request arbitration or a third-party assessment? Make a sworn affidavit or something?

I suspect what they're doing is simply saying "we'll make sure we offset the cost of this claim by simply finding him at fault and jacking his rates up - we'll get our money back over the next few months that way". Azzholes.

I suspect if there's no recourse I'll just end up canceling the claim and eating the $2k repair out of pocket but if this happens (at the very least) it will be the last time I EVER use Progressive for anything.

My office at work is a short walk from the State Insurance Commissioner's Office. Anything to be gained by going in and having a chat with them?

[ZOO]

In Ontario there is an ombudsman that you can appeal to. I'd start by seeing if there is something similar inyour state. Good luck -- sounds like a miserable situation.

[Geronimo '74]

I'd pay them a visit. (it's understandable that you are furious, but take a few deep breaths before you do )

Wouldn't hesitate to take my money elsewhere either, if needed.


Interested in seeing the pictures.

[widgeon13]

What's your history of claims with them. If you have no history, I'd push the issue and say they have no basis for the allegation. Also see if the parking lot will document that you reported it while there, that's a long shot since they won't want to acknowledge it happened on their property.

When you get it resolved, find a new insurance company. I hate that slut on TV!

Good luck.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Pics (makes it kinda' self-explanatory, doesn't it?) Of course these bastages will probably claim I broke someone's taillight just to stage the photos. Pricks. Makes me want to slap that smarmy brunette chick right across her smilin' mug the next time she tries to tell me how great Progressive is.

More later...

[Geronimo '74]

Those dents in the door are, even for a layman, clearly NOT caused by hitting a pole.
You will have little trouble in making that clear to any sensible, intelligent person.
Have an expert look at this, he'll back you up in no time.

[widgeon13]

With that damage, if you slid into a post the rocker would be damaged as well. Pretty stupid reply from Progressive if you ask me. What do they think you did, collected all the scrapes from a back up light and sprinkled it on the ground.

You pay your premiums, now they need to pay for the damage. I'd be fuming too!

Take it to the local TV station.

CSI Miami could take those pieces of light and tell you what kind of truck or other vehicle and what kind of perfume he or she was wearing.

[Scuba Steve]

Is there enough of the tail light to figure out the year range and model of the truck? If push comes to shove, maybe find someone with the same type of truck and back it up close to the damage, showing how the bumper height lines up with everything.

[EarlyPorsche]

If you were lying and hit a pole then wouldn't the piece that protrudes the most get damaged first?

[widebody911]

It's their job to find any reason whatsoever not to pay.

[red-beard]

Why you you supporting that POS company? "Progressive", get it?

How you you get a dent in the door from a pole? Do the wheels turn sideways?

[boba]

It looks like you also have some paint transfer which should match the taillight to help ID the culprit vehicle type.

[Radioactive]

State Insurance Commissioner

Those guys are worthless!

They are one of those govt jobs that gets paid lots of money to not do crap!

I contacted them once regarding an insurance co violating the state regulations, they can't do anything about it. They apparently don't have any enforcement power.

I did some research and it appears when insurance company's are investigated for wrong doing, and found to have violated the regulations they are fined some miniscule amount. I think the bean counters have figured its cheaper to violate the rules. Look around and you will find the insurance commissioners investigation reports including the fines. It was a joke.

Rant over

[red-beard]

I don't know about your area, but there are independant insurance adjusters here. They work with the insurance company to get you the full amount for everything to get the car fixed. Look in the yellow pages...

[Normy]

Did you make a police report? What does it say?

-I quit Progressive last year. After five years of no claims or tickets....they saw fit to jack up my rates 35%! For no reason whatsoever! OK, I took my business elsewhere. I stayed with the same insurance agent, and I took my three cars AND my house to other companies. I made a point of sending an email to Progressive as to why I was leaving.


That damage sucks! On the other hand, you can probably source a used door either online or at a salvage yard, install it yourself, and spend only a few hundred dollars. Ditch the claim- it will just jack up your rates.

Good luck!

N

[LWJ]

P-O-P,

Photos are pretty convincing, along with the lens chunks, I would say nearly conclusive. This is a large and impersonal company. You wage war on them using their logic.

Unfortunately, I expect that your loss ratio would be changed regardless of fault - meaning that even if they agree some idiot hit you, it could cost you the same.

I would send a letter to the adjuster with your explanation and photos and tell them calmly what happened and why they are incorrect. Further, that they have aggravated you by questioning your integrity. If the adjuster is a contractor and not an employee, take it up a step or two to someone who is. It does not hurt to use the insurance commissioner at all. The industry is terrified of these folks. Why not stroll over to their office some sunny afternoon and chat up someone in compliance (get their name) and ask your options? Name drop in the letter the name and that it is not uncommon for you to interact with the commissioner's office.

What has happened here is someone processed your claim with about 30 seconds of thought. They are over worked and underpaid and don't really care. They are rewarded by keeping the maximum dollars in the company. They also screwed up. They will listen to reason. You simply need to move this up to higher levels until you find someone who agrees with you.

Finally, I would also mention that you are an active member in an international web forum with an automotive interest and that in your frustration, you have consulted with members of this forum. Given the money that Progressive spends on advertising, they have an interest to keep you happy. I think you have shown that one unhappy customer spreads the news to many. What would happen if they made you happy? That is good business? You have already EASILY cost them over $2500 in lost business due to this post.

Best of luck,

Larry

[Roosterrusek]

WAIT....how in the world would you have been able to hit a pole, that produces a crease that far up, and with the horizontal striations on it AND NOT DESTROY THE SIDE MIRROR?

[sammyg2]

Contact your state legislator or your congressman in writing and explain the situation to them with the photos and ask for help.
They will be more than happy to have a staff member make a call to progressive, and progressive will not like getting that phone call. Progressive will cave like a house of cards in tornado alley and give you almost anything you want to make you go away.
They'll cancel your policy but big deal, you wouldn't be dumb enough to stay with them anyway after the way they treated you.

Don't bother contacting feinstein or boxer.
They won't do anything to help you and besides, they love the word "progressive".

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Thanks - agree with the above. These guys have really rubbed me the wrong way here and I'll follow up on it until I get satisfactory resolution.

Paying money for a good or service, I have no problem with. I have a big problem when the providers of those goods/services try to make it be about providing NOTHING and still expecting to be paid for it.

This is more about the principle of the matter than the actual damages. Worst case if I walked away and paid to have the thing fixed out of pocket I'm out what? $2K? Inconvenient yes, but hardly something to get bent out of shape over. When someone is clearly trying to screw me just to get me to continue paying for something in exchange for nothing AND questions my integrity/honesty at the same time, they're in for a fight.

[regency]

20 years ago, I was a claims adjuster for Hanover Insurance. I handled lots of this kind of stuff. I'd write a certified letter to this Adjuster's Supervisor, rejecting the "findings" and demand a "face to face" meeting to go over the facts and evdience. I would also remind them that you their insured and use the words, "Bad Faith" in this letter.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine